Shyness isn’t a lifelong personality trait. Learning to talk to strangers is a skill you can acquire. Want to know how Conan O’Brien and Will Ferrell got over their shyness? Using a technique called “radical implosion”.

Meetings tend to be dominated by talkative people, and that makes it hard for the meeting wallflowers to feel heard. These three simple tips for before, during, and after the meeting will give everyone a more even playing field.

Hitting it off with new people can be quite a challenge for some of us. When you don’t know someone, there’s a barrier of awkwardness between you. Charismatic people are able to break that barrier. One shortcut for doing this is to think of someone new you meet as an old friend.

You might be shy; you might not be terribly charismatic. But you’re not destined to be that way. Social skills are just that: skills. They can be learned and honed. Learn to be more outgoing by practicing when the stakes are low.

Years ago, I started a brand new job, and I was contracted on terrible project. There was no real work to do, so instead of technical writing—my actual job—I spent my time getting coffee for people and making copies. Rather than ask my boss about this, I kept it to myself. Weeks later, she confronted me, puzzled:…

Parties are supposed to be fun, not scary—but trying to start a conversation in a room full of total strangers can be harrowing. Fear not, though: with the right tricks, you can not only survive, but actually enjoy yourself.

I once showed up to a party alone, before any of my friends arrived. Instead of mingling, I hid in the bathroom to kill time and avoid talking to strangers. Embarrassing, but true. For a shy person, social interaction can be a stomach-churning, anxiety-filled experience. It was for me. But with some work, I was able…

Does the prospect of calling someone fill you with dread? Do you put off making phone calls as long as you can? Whether you have nerves about talking on the phone or you're just a little shy, The Art of Manliness suggests creating a script before you make a call to help calm you down.

Next time you're at the gym working out, meeting someone new, or out for the first time in a new outfit, remember that most other people are preoccupied thinking about themselves, so they're not paying attention to you and your worries.

If you consider yourself a shy or awkward person, the encounters you've had were probably far less awkward than you thought they were. You can build a little self confidence and dispel some shyness by re-evaluating your social encounters in a positive light.

There's nothing wrong with being shy, but sometimes you can benefit from putting yourself out there—like at a professional function that can further your career. Phil Kirkham of Atomic Object likes to gamify these interactions with small challenges.

Most shy people wish they were more confident, because shyness is ultimately a symptom of you being uncomfortable with who you are. You judge yourself based on other people's standards and spend too much time in your own head, thinking of how best to act and react in any given situation. This is nothing more than a…

Lots of people both extroverts and introverts dislike public speaking because the entire audience is focused on you and seemingly critical of any flaw or mistake you make when most of the time the audience just wants you to finish so they can get on with their life.

If shyness dictates that you slink away to a corner rather than engage with people when you get in a public place, veteran photographer David Hurn suggests that photography is a perfect tool for overcoming shyness.

If you fold like an orgami swan at the idea of making a birthday toast in front of a group of people or going to a party by yourself, then you might like self-improvement blog Dumb Little Man's tips for overcoming shyness.